Chesapeake Watershed

Chesapeake bay ecosystems the chesapeake bay is an estuary a place where fresh and saltwater mix to provide a unique habitat for a vast array of birds mammals insects and fish.

Chesapeake watershed.

More than 150 rivers and streams drain into the chesapeake bay. More than 18 million people live in the chesapeake bay watershed. Court judge sylvia h. The following reports are now available online for the following watershed locations.

The largest and at one time most productive estuary in the united states the chesapeake bay is an integral part of our natural and national history. The watershed around the bay that is the area of land that drains into it spans 64 000 square miles 166 000 square kilometers and parts of six states. The chesapeake bay watershed spans more than 64 000 square miles encompassing parts of six states delaware maryland new york pennsylvania virginia and west virginia and the entire district of columbia. The chesapeake bay watershed drainage basin extends about five hundred miles south from the headwaters of otsego lake near cooperstown new york to the atlantic ocean and suffolk virginia.

While the health of the chesapeake bay has improved since the 1970s excess nutrients and sediment continue to adversely affect water quality in the bay and its tributaries. Epa called the ruling by u s. The largest estuary on the continent the 64 000 square miles chesapeake bay watershed includes more than 150 rivers and streams. The chesapeake bay watershed.

We can all now as partners re focus our work on achieving clean water goals building on the progress already happening and reaping the benefits of restoring local waters and the bay. The land to water ratio of the chesapeake bay is 14 1 the largest of any coastal water body in the world. It is essentially a giant sprawling system of rivers that all drain into one shallow tidal basin the chesapeake bay and its tidal tributaries average depth only 21 feet. More than 300 species of fish shellfish and crab and a wide array of other wildlife call the bay home.

What is the chesapeake bay watershed. Recognized as a national treasure for its historical cultural economic and ecological significance the chesapeake is the largest estuary in north america and one of the most productive in the world. Rambo a victory for the 17 million people in the chesapeake bay watershed. Get up close and personal with some of the bay s coolest critters as you contemplate how each is adapted to live in this environment.

The chesapeake bay is the largest estuary in the united states and third largest in the world.